Feingold's Iraq deadline gets cold shoulder in Senate: Democrats seem to prefer looser alternative.

Byline: Katherine M. Skiba

Jun. 21--Washington -- The Senate today plans to debate a new proposal by Sen. Russ Feingold to have most U.S. troops out of Iraq by July 1, 2007.

Amid red-hot rhetoric, its prospects appeared cold.

Most Democrats did not warm to the proposal, which Feingold authored with Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts.

Instead, a majority in their party have rallied around a Democratic alternative. It seeks a phased withdrawal of troops beginning by the end of this year but gives no deadline.

The expected showdown -- cast as the first Iraq war debate in the Senate in seven months -- could see Republicans throw a rival measure …